Teesside High School in Eaglescliffe has acknowledged a recent netmums survey, which identifies parental concern over the size of primary schools, created by a shortage of spaces.
Netmums, the on-line parenting organisation, surveyed over 1000 parents across the UK. Their results nationally demonstrated that some primary schools have more than 700 children in them and that children felt ‘overwhelmed’.
For the Stockton Borough alone, ONS (Office for National Statistics) projections show a 15% increase in the number of children aged from 0 to 4 years, from 2006 to 2016.
Teesside High School Head Teacher, Deborah Duncan, said: “Starting at a new school can be daunting enough for very young children, so I can understand parental concerns over schools which may be growing in size to accommodate an increasing demand for places.
She continued: “Obviously some parents will prefer larger schools with the benefits they offer, but I feel that we have the balance right at Teesside High School, where our classes are small but we are still able to provide the best in teaching staff and facilities.
“Our pupils soon get to know each other and their teachers, helping them to settle in quickly. Small class sizes mean that we can provide more personalised learning and individualised pastoral care for the children.”
The netmums news release is available on their website:
